The Shelf Life of Food

The SHELF LIFE OF A chef's guide to food safety and inventory control FOOD DATES NOT FOR SAFETY Dates on food are only rough guidelines from the government and manufacturers for sellers and buyers. Most products are safe to eat long after their dates pass. DATE TYPE EXAMPLE PRODUCT TYPES MEANING WHEN TO DISPOSE EXPIRATION BABY FOOD AND FORMULA MANUFACTURER DOES DISPOSE PRODUCT DATE NOT GUARANTEE AFTER THIS DATE. NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS/ NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF VITAMINS FOOD AFTER THIS DATE. MEDICINES PACK DATE CANNED FOODS CANNING /PACKAGING VARIES, BUT USUALLY DATE, AND IS USED FOR A LONG TIME. CRACKERS/COOKIES FIRST IN, FIRST OUT." SPICES USE BY CRACKERS/COOKIES MANUFACTURER'S USE TASTE, SIGHT DATE RECOMMENDATION FOR AND SMELL TO JUDGE. CEREAL WHEN THE FOOD IS AT PEAK QUALITY. SODA/BEVERAGES SALAD MIXES SELL BY DAIRY LAST DAY STORES VARIES, BUT USUALLY DATE SUPPLIERS CAN SELL DAYS TO SEVERAL MEAT THE PRODUCT. WEEKS, DEPENDING ON STORAGE AND HANDLING. SAFETY PRACTICES 1. PRACTICE FIFO 2. KEEP MEAT LOW Cycle products through “first in, first out" rule. Use older food first. Place meat on lower shelves so juices won't drip onto other products. 3. KEEP AIR-TIGHT 4. STORE OFF FLOOR Use air-tight containers to keep out bacteria, vermin and other contaminants. All food should be at least 6" off the floor, possibly higher in some locales. 5. MAINTAIN TEMPERATURES 6. DON'T OVER PACK Refrigerators 35-41° F, Freezers -10ʻ-o° F, Dry Storage 50°-70° F. Post thermometers in all food storage areas. Overloading refrigeration and freezing units can keep them from working properly. 7 STAY CLEAN AND TIDY 8. BE CAUTIOUS Clean up all spills. Organize and label all foods. When in doubt, throw it out. POST-DATE SHELF LIVES * REFRIGERATOR @ 36-40°F ** FREEZER @ O'F ROOM TEMPERATURE DAIRY MEAT O PRODUCE O BREADS DRY GOODS O TO 365 DAYS * 05 DAYS MILK ** NOT RECOMMENDED * 10 DAYS CREAM, HEAVY ** 04 MONTHS * 14 DAYS ** NOT RECOMMENDED SOUR CREAM CHEESE, SHREDDED, * 30 DAYS Low MOISTURE ** 08 MONTHS CHEESE, SHREDDED, HIGH MOISTURE * 21 DAYS ** 06 MONTHS * 06 MONTHS ** 08 MONTHS CHEESE, HARD * 14 DAYS ** 06 MONTHS CHEESE, SOFT * 02 MONTHS ** NOT RECOMMENDED CREAM CHEESE * 02 MONTHS ** 12 MONTHS BUTTER * NOT APPLICABLE ** 04 MONTHS ICE CREAM * 28 DAYS ** NOT RECOMMENDED EGGS * 02 DAYS ** 06 MONTHS FISH, RAW, OILY * 02 DAYS ** 12 MONTHS FISH, RAW, WHITE * 02 DAYS ** 09 MONTHS SHRIMP, RAW * 05 DAYS ** 12 MONTHS BEEF, WHOLE CUTS * 02 DAYS ** 12 MONTHS BEEF, GROUND * 05 DAYS ** 12 MONTHS PORK, WHOLE CUTS * 02 DAYS ** 12 MONTHS PORK, GROUND POULTRY, WHOLE CUTS * 02 DAYS ** 12 MONTHS * 02 DAYS ** 12 MONTHS POULTRY, GROUND * 14 DAYS ** 12 MONTHS HAM, UNOPENED * 14 DAYS BACON ** 06 MONTHS * 02 DAYS ** 06 MONTHS SAUSAGE, RAW * 07 DAYS SAUSAGE, SMOKED ** 09 MONTHS * NOT APPLICABLE VEGETABLES, FROZEN ** 08 MONTHS * 05 DAYS ** 12 MONTHS VEGETABLES, FRESH * 05 DAYS ** 12 MONTHS FRUIT, FRESH * NOT APPLICABLE BAGELS, BREAD ** 03 MONTHS * NOT APPLICABLE ** 01 MONTH DOUGH BARLEY 18 MONTHS BARLEY 24 MONTHS BREADCRUMBS 06 MONTHS CEREAL, READY To EAT - UNOPENED 12 MONTHS CEREAL, READY TO 03 MONTHS EAT - OPENED CHOCOLATE, BAKING 06 MONTHS CORNMEAL, HOMINY GRITS 12 MONTHS CORNSTARCH 18 MONTHS FLOUR, BLEACHED 08 MONTHS FLOUR, WHOLE 08 MONTHS WHEAT HONEY AND SYRUP 12 MONTHS NOODLES, EGG 06 MONTHS NOODLES, PLAIN 24 MONTHS OLIVE OIL 06 MONTHS PASTA 24 MONTHS RICE 24 MONTHS RICE, BROWN OR 06 MONTHS WILD SUGAR, GRANULATED 24 MONTHS SUGAR, POWDERED 18 MONTHS YEAST, DRY EXPIRATION DATE CANNED FOODS AND JuIcEs WITH HIGH ACID CONTENT 12 MONTHS CANNED FOODS WITH Low ACID CONTENT 24 + MONTHS Chef Works SOURCES: HTTP://SHELFLIFEADVICE.COM/ HTTP://wwW.EATEYDATE.COM/ HTTP://wwW.ANFPONLINE.ORG/RESOUR CES/DMARESOURCES/STANDARDO7.SHTML HTTP://SITE.FOODSHARE.ORG/SITE/DOCSERVER/FOOD_STORAGE_AND_SHELF_LIFE_GUIDELINES.PDF HTTP://wwW.FSIS.USDA.GOV/WPS/PORTAL/FSIS/TOPICS/FOOD-SAFETY-EDUCATION/GET-ANSWERS/FOOD-SAFETY-FACT-SHEETS/FOOD-LABELING HTTP://wwW.FOODSERVICE WAREHOUSE.COM/EDUCATION/PRODUCT-SAFETY-PUBLIC-HEALTH/8-TIPS-FOR-SAFE-FOOD-STORAGE-IN-YOUR-RESTAURANT-/C28162.ASPX